Business

2:31 am

Tue October 1, 2013

Study: Fast Food Has Gotten A Bit Slower

McDonald's posted its slowest drive-through performance times in 15 years, according to a new industry study.

M. Spencer GreenAP

Fast food, it turns out, isn't quite as fast as it used to be.

A new study finds that McDonald's posted its slowest drive-through times since this survey was first conducted 15 years ago.

At McDonald's, customers will spend on average 3 minutes and 9 seconds from the time they place their orders until they receive their food. That's about 10 seconds more than the industry average — and a lot slower than a decade ago, according to the study, which was commissioned by QSR, an industry trade publication.

And McDonald's wasn't alone in slowing down: Other chains, like Chick-fil-A, also saw their drive-through performance slow down.

Among the reasons for the more sluggish service: Today there are more choices on the menu, and the products themselves are more complex — flavored lattes, smoothies and salad bowls, for example. All of that can take longer to prepare and adds to the time spent waiting in the drive-through line.

Speed, of course, is essential to the drive-through experience, and drive-throughs are hugely important to chains such as McDonald's, Burger King and Taco Bell.

"Usually the drive-through accounts for 60 percent or 70 percent of all business that goes through a fast-food restaurant," notes Sam Oches, editor of QSR.

Of course, consumers also want their orders prepared correctly and on that score, Oches says, "accuracy is still really high."

The American quest for speed and convenience is now prompting some so-called fast casual chains like Panera to expand their drive-through offerings.

"It's a defensive thing, if nothing else," says Bob Goldin, an executive vice president with food and restaurant industry research firm Technomic. As Goldin puts it, you don't want to lose a customer who's in a hurry.

Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

And we have some food for thought this morning: Fast food has gotten a bit slower. A newly published drive-thru study shows McDonalds posted its slowest times in the 15 year history of that study.

Here's more from NPR's Wendy Kaufman.

WENDY KAUFMAN, BYLINE: At McDonalds, typical customers will spend three minutes and nine seconds from the time they place their orders until they get them. That's about 10 seconds more than the industry average - and a lot slower than a decade ago.

Today, there are more choices on the menu and the products themselves are more complex. Flavored Lattes, smoothies and salad bowls, for example. Those things slow down your order.

Speed, of course, is essential to the drive-thru experience. And drive-thrus are hugely important to chains, such as McDonalds and Burger King. Fast food trade publication QSR commissioned the study. The magazine's editor is Sam Oches.

SAM OCHES: Usually the drive-thru accounts for 60 percent or 70 percent of all business that goes through a fast food rest. It's a lot.

KAUFMAN: Consumers also want their orders prepared correctly. And on that score, says Oches...

OCHES: Accuracy is still really high.

KAUFMAN: The American quest for speed and convenience is now prompting some so-called fast casual chains like Panera, to expand their drive-thru offerings.

BOB GOLDIN: It's a defensive thing if nothing else.

KAUFMAN: As Bob Goldin, a food and restaurant industry analyst puts it, you don't want to lose a customer who's in a hurry.